Dump-car-operating mechanism.



C. I'. PREDPI & A. J. DINKEL DUMP GAB. OPERATING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18,41913.

G. F. FRBDE se A. J. DINKBL. DUMP GAR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLlGATION P1LBDAUG-18, 1913.

Patented Feb. 2, 11915.

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G. F. FREDE L A. J. DNKEL. DUMP CAR OPERATlNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18.1913.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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y ,CHARLES F. FREDE, Oris'r. LOUIS, IvIIsesOURI, ANIVANDREW J. DINKEI., oF-GRANITE To all whom/t may concern.'

CITY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO BALANCED CHUTE DUMP CAR COMPANY, OF' ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. y

Dunadan-OPERATING MEOHAN'ISM.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

lApplication filed August 18, 1913. Serial No. 785,412.

Be it known that we, CHARLEs F. FREDE and ANDREW J. DINKEL, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, and at Granite City, in the county'of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dump Car Operating Mechanism, of whichfthe following is a specification. i

Our invention relates to mechanism for operating the drop doors of a dumping car;

bin, storage elevator, or analogous receptacle. whether mounted on wheels or stationary. adapted to contain sand, earth, coal, ore, grain, ort-he like, and from which the contents are discharged or dumped through an opening 1n the floor controlled by the saidl doors to either side of and beneath the said receptacle, and our invention applies particularly to such a receptacle having two opposite side (outside and inside) doors hingebd to and dependent trom'the floor and adapted to form when closed a V-'shaped hopper beneath the said opening, combined with a pivoted balanced door or chute adapted to lock the side doors in their closed position and to torni a chute thereto in their open position. such as the arrangement described and shown in the Letters Patent granted to Herbert L. i-\ulls, .-'\.pril 1 6, 1907, Number 850,719,

tor improvements in convertible dumping named, and held in the open position for discharging the contents of the car or receptacle to the corresponding side beneaththe saine, the other side vdoor being simulta neouslv held in its normal or closed'position, and to enable either of the side doors to be closed initiallyv in advance of thebalanced door or chute.

4Theivvintention consists In features of no'vf elty'as hereinafter described and claimed,

i1, I1, in

reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing-forming part of this specification. whereon,

Figure 1, is a top plan view of one end and adjacent part ot' a dump-car having our improved door operating mechanism applied thereto, Fig. 2, anl end elevation of the car frame (broken away) at one side of the vertical center of the car showing the corresponding complete lset of the operating v mechanism in side view with the-doors in their closed or normal position; Fig. a similar view to Fig. 2, with the balanced door or chute in position for holding the ihside door closed while releasing and allowing the outside door to be Opened; Fig. L1, a

similar view to Fig. 2with the balanced door or chute in the position seen in Fig. 3, and the outside door opened for dumping to the side ofthe car; Fig. 5, aside view to enlarged scale of the engaging parts ot thecontrolling and operating levers (broken away) of the mechanism with their respective operating devices forming parts of our invention in the position seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a vertical'transverse section through the same on line 6, 6, in Fig. 5: Fig. 7, a horizontal section thereof on line 7, 7, in Fig. 5; Fig.l 8, a. similar view to Fig. 5 with the parts in position as seen in Fig. 3; F ig.l 9, a vertical section through the .reversing switch block forming part of our invention, on line 9, in Fig. 6, looking to the lett; Fig. 10, a snnilar view to Fig. 9, through the switch block on line 10, 410, in Fig. 6, looking to the right, and Fig. 11, 4a vertical cross section through the trip lever. forming part of the locking deiice for the switch-block, on line Like letter and numerals .of reference denote like partsin all the figures.

a represents a dump-car having preferably, at each side thereof through the door 1 a rectangular-shaped opening 2 for the discharge therethrough of the Contents of the car a, the Hoor v1 at and between the openings 2 being inclined upward to a. suitable height from the openings 2 forinsuring the dump or discharge of the contents of the car by gravity through the openings Q without shovelling or plowing.

Extending longitudinally through the car a at the inner and outer sides of each opening 2, and rotatable in bearings 3 formed in or fixed to the fioor 1 thereat, are shafts 4, and 4, respectively, to each of which is fixed a door dependent from the floor 1 having its upper longitudinal edge or member corresponding to, and in juxtaposition to the side of the opening :2, the two opposite doors ZJ of each opening 2, on partly rotating the shafts 4, 4', being adaptedto close together'along their .lower or free longitudinal edges or members so as toform a V.-shaped hopper c beneath the opening 2. Immediately beneath the hoppero thus'formed and extending longitudinally through the car between the shafts 4, 4, is vashaft 5 rotatable in bearings 6 fixed to the car a, and on 'the shaft 5' is fixed a balanced door or chute d of suitable width and preferably corresponding in length to the doors b' and openings 2, the balanced door 4or chute ,when horizontal', being adapted to bear longitudinally at its middle portion or thereabout, against the lower R free edges or members of the doors b and thereby hold or lock the latter in their closed position, as shown particularly in Fig; 2, and tobe moved transversely thereat about the said edges lradially to the axial bearings 6 of the shaft 5 for releasing and allowing either ofthe doors b to be opened and the other door b held closed -as hereinafter more particularly referred to.

In the arrangement ofthe several parts of our improved door operating mechanism relatively to each other as we shall now'proeeed to describe reference is partic- -ularly .made to Fig. 2 in which` the said `4o doors closed and locked.

parts are in their normal position l On the shaft 4, preferably outside the end 7 of the car a, is'. fixed at right angles to the face-of the inside door b, an arm 8, and on the .free end` of the arm 11 is coupled one the shaft 4 at a suitable inclination to 'the face of the outside door b, is fixed an arm 8 having its free end somewhat higher than the corresponding endA of the arm 8, and to the lattersis coupled one end of a vertically arranged link 9 having its other end coupled tothe inner end of a horizontally arranged bar 10l which -is coupled at its other end to the free end of the arm 8', the arms 8, 8, link 9,' and bar 10 being preferably, in the same plane. v

On the shaft 5 isxed at a suitable inclination to the -face of the balanced door or chute d, an arm 11 which Ainclines toward the 'arm 8 of the inside door b in a parallel and preferably, outer plane thereto, and to end of a horizontally. arranged (or there- 1about) link 12 which preferably, extends `toward the arm 8 of the-outside door b `and is coupled at its free end to thelower with the i 12, Vand lever 13 being preferably, in the same plane, I

In the inner face of the controlling lever 13. at a suitable distance from its fulcrum 14, is formed a circular recess 16 (seen particularly in Fig. 6) inwhich is revolubly fitted a circular block 17 (hereinafter referred to as the switch-block) which bears at its inner side against the bottom of the recess y16 sandpreferably, projects beyondv the said face, the switch block 17 being formed on it innerside with a ycentral -circular shank or stem 17 which projects therefrom through, and has its bearing in the lever 13, and on the outer projecting part of the shank 17 is fixedone lend of a gravity lever 18 having preferably, a weight 18 at its -free end.

In the outer face of and corresponding switch-block 17 is formed a U-shaped recess`19 having its closed end concentric with t the shank 17', and lits s ides parallel, the. other end of the recess 19 being open and affording a free passage to and from the latter through the periphery of the projecting portion of the switch-block 17, the recess 19 as seen in Figs. 5, 6, and 9, being vertical in its lowest position wherein it is held until otherwise constrained, by the gravity lever 18Awhich is also vertical in its lowest posi# tion and longitudinally -co-incident with 'the recess 194 as shown. v

0n the inner face ofthe controlling lever 18 and corresponding in depthto that of the projecting portion of the switch-block 17 and its recess 19, are. formed two slotways 20 vand 21 which are partway straight e'x-f radial 4to ,thev center of the switch-block 17.

and the center lines of the curved parts of the slotways 20, 21, being, when theV said slotways are respectively, in operation (as hereinafter described) concentric `with 'the pivot or fulcrum 22 of the horizontally arranged main operating lever e which 4is preferably, of the first kind having its pivot 22 mounted in a bracket 22 fixed to the car frame as shown` the Width of each slotcess 19 in the switch-block 17, so that when the latter with its shank 17"- is partially rotatedby the gravity lever 18 in one direction, litsfrecess, 419 registers with ,the slot- 'Way 20, 21, corresponding to that of the rel madera way 20, and in the other direction with the slotway 21. v

' -0n' the front or outer ,face of the inner arm 23 of the operating lfver e is pivoted a roller which is diametrically somewhat less than, `but practically the same as the width of the recess 19 andslotways 20, 21, the roller'2l: being normally, in the Aclosed position of the. doors b and d, within the recess 19, and circumferentiallyin engagement with or bearing" against the closed end of the latter, whereby the operating lever c and controlling lever 13 are interlocked and inoperative'.

On the outer face of the controlling lever 13 at `a suitable distance above `the switchblock 17 is a projection 25 having its opposite ends so shaped that when the switchblock 17 is partly rotated as before mentioned, by the gravity lever 1S, in either directi on for registering the recess 19 with either of the slot'ways20, 21, the corresponding end of the projection operates a stop to the gravity lever 1Sand thereby indicates the position of the recess 19 rela tively to the slotways 20, 21. For locking the 'switch-block 1.7 in either' of the said positions of its recess 19 relatively to the slotways 20. 21. we preferably, use a lever 26 of the lirst kind which is pivoted on a pin fixed to, and projecting from the inner face ofthe controlling ,lever 13 adjacent tothe `switch-block 17 the outer arm of the lever 26 being-weighted'and its inner arm formed with an upwardly projecting tooth 27. (see ,particularly in Figs. 7 and 11) which, on

the partial rot-ation of the switch-block 17 to the right by the gravity lever 18 for registering its recess 19 with the slotway 20,

engages in a notch 20 formed transverselyy in thc periphery Iof theswitch-block 17 within its recess 16, seen in Figs. 8 and 10. whereby the switch-block 17 is locked. while. on partially rotating the switch-block 17 in the. opposite direction for` registering the recess 19 with the slotway 21. the tooth 27 engages in a notch 21 formed transversely in the said periphery at the proper distancel from the notch 20 and correspondingly locks the switcl'i-block 17.

From the inner side of the locking lever 2li a djacent to thc tooth 27 and in the Ydirection of the operating lever c projects a horizontally arranged stud orpin 26 (seen particularly in Figs. 7 and 11) on which is pivoted a vertically arranged gravity trip lever 27 preferably. of the tirst kind. hav

will strike-the upperend ofthe lever 27 and thereby force downward the inner arm of lthe locking lever V26 and automatically dise'ngage its tooth 27 from the switch-block 17, when the gravity lever v18 automatically descends and returns the switch-block 1l to its normal position.

The inner arm 23 of the operating lever e y the piston-rod `29 (or its extension 29 as shown inthe vpresent case) below the crosshead 2S. 'being adapted preferably, to slide through a suitable guide 30 fixed to the car frame as shown.

The outer arm 31 of the voperating lever c is coupled at its free end to the upper end ofv a vertically arranged double link g which is jointed at its lower endjtlo the bar 10,

preferably, midway between?" the coupled ends of the latter to the arm 8 and link 9, the link g being made preferably', in two equal lengths 32, 32', hinged together at their meeting ends by a pin 33. To the upper length 32 of the link f/ at a suitable distance from its junction with the arm 31 of the operating lever e, is coupled one end of a .link 34 having its other end hinged to a 'bracket 35 fixed to the car frame, the lef ver e, and links and 34.-, being preferably, in the plane of the bar 10.

lIn operation. assuming the doors 7) and d to be in their normal position or closed, with the several parts of their operating mechanism locked by the engagement of the roller Acar (t. the trip lever 2.7" being first thrown 'out of engagement with the lever e, the

switch-block 17 is partly rotated to the right b v thegravity lever 18 until the recess "19 of the switch-block 17 registers with the sl'otway20 as indicated b v the stoppage of the gravity lever 18 by the corresponding right hand end of the projection 25 on the lever 13, in which position'the switch-block- 17 is then automatically locked b v the lever loe 26, thereby allowing free .passage to the roller 2l along the recess 19 and slotway 20. Air being'thcn admitted to the Cylinder f beneath the piston therein, the latter with the piston-rod 29 and crosshead 28 is thereby raised and correspondingly raises the inner arm 23 of the operating lever e, which 13 to be moved to the left, as indicated by Vthe arrow in Fig. 3, radially about its fulcrum 14, whereby the link 12 which couples the lower end of the lever 13 to the arm 1-1 pulls the. latter to the left, orso as to swing the balanced door or Achute d tothe right about its shaft 5 into the open position against the underside of the inside door b as seen in Fig. 3, thereby releasing and allowing the outside Idoor b to be opened and at the same time holding the inside door b '.closed. Meantime,v by the lowering of the outer arm '31 of the operating leverV e, a

downward pressure is imparted tothe link.-

gv, but, owing to the outside door b being held closed by the balanced door or chute a? until the latter is fully opened and clear ofr the outside door b as seen in Fig. 3, the

' arms '8, E8", of the doors 'b remain ri `d so that the bar 10 and link 9 are una ected Y `is partly rotated Y`to the left by the gravity vleverl until its 'recess 19 registers with the by thegsaid pressure on the link g but remain normalas in lFig. 2, `whereby the link 8 of the inside door?) as a fixed point or ful Crum, into the relative positionsfseen in Fig.

v34 is constrained downward about its fulcrum 35 so as to force the two lengths 32, 32, of the link g totheright out of their ynormal alinement as seen in Fig. 3, until, on

.the roller 24 of the operating lever e enter- 4ing and traveling along the-curvedpart of ythe slotway 20, whiehin this position of the contrelling lever 13, is concentric 'with the fulcrunm"22 ofthe operating lever e, there is no further movement of the controlling" lever `13; but by the continued downwardv movement of-the operatingv lever e in obedi ence to the upward movement of the piston within the' cylinder j, the two lengths 32, 32, of the link g, owing to the descent of the length 32 at its junction with the arm 31 and "link 34 being in opposite arcs, are returned totheir normal alinement and with the bar 10 Vand link 9 are constrained about the arm 4, or so as to throwthe arm 8', and with it the outside door b, downward. about the shaft 4 at an accelerated speed into the.

open position of the outside door b which thereby f ormswith the balanced door cZ and the inside door b a chute for directing the contents ofthe car a discharged through the opening 2`-to the side ofthe cara.

For-closing the outside door. b, and balancedtdoor or chute d, air is admitted within the cylinder f abovefthe piston, which,

lowers the inner arm 23 and raises thebuter arm 31 of the operating lever e,.w hereby the roller 24 is returnedalong the curved part of the slotway 20, and while so doing, the outer arm 31 ofthe lever e returns 'the links g and 34, with the bar' 10, link 9, and

Liaaeva the descending arm 23 of the leverA e, from engagement with the switch-block 17, the

latter with the recess 19 is automatically returned by the descent of the gravity lever 18 to its normal position, or with the opelating lever e and controlling lever 13, and other parts of the mechanism locked and inoperative as in Fig. 2.

Conversely, foropening the inside door 1 and Vswinging the balanced door'or chute d over against th'e underside of the outside ,door for dumping the material beneath the middle of the car va, .theswitchblock l straight part of the slotway 21 as indicated b v the stoppage of the gravity lever 18 by the corresponding left hand end of the projection 25 on the lever 1 3, thereby allowing free passage to the roller 24 along the recess- 19 and'slotway 21. Air being then admitted to the cylinder f below the piston, the roller 24V travels along the recess 19- and the straight part of the slotway 21, and in so doingcons'trains the controllingl lever 13 to y overto the left about the shaft 5 into its open position against theunderside of the Outside door b thereby'releasing and allowing the inside door 7) to beopened and at the same time holding the outside door L closed; otherwise, lthe operation of the several parts of the mechanism in opening the inside door b i`s `similar in every'respect to -that previously described for opening the outside door b fand-therefore needs no further description, except that, when opening tlie"'inside door the links g and 34, with the bar 1 0 and link 9, are constrained about the arm 8 as a Xed point or fulcrum in lieu of the arm 8 as described when opening the outside door b. i.

We do not limit ourselves to the particu-A lar arrangement, form, or proportions of 1 the several parts of our improved door oper-\ -ating mechanism as hereinbefore described it being obvious that these maybe varied vaccording to circumstances without departure from the essential principle of our in# having a discharge opening, two opposite pivoted side doors adapted to open and close the said opening, a balanced door adapted to hold the side doors closed, means for positively opening the balanced door and subsequently positively opening either of the side doors, and for positively closing the said opened side door, and'. subsequently positively closing the balanced door.

. 2.. In 'a dump-car or analogous receptacle having a discharge opening, two opposite pivoted side doors adapted to .open and close the said opening, a balanced door' adapted to hold the side doors closed, means for positively opening the balanced door and subsequently positively opening either of the side doors, and for positively closing the saidopenvd side door and subsequently closing the brlanced door, and m'eans for automatically locking the said doors in their closed position. l

3. In a dump-car or analogous receptacle having a discharge opening, two opposite -pivoted side doors adapted to open-and close the saidv opening, a balanced door adapted to hold the side doors closed, determinative means for positively opening 'the balanced door in either of two opposite directions and thereby releasing one of the side doors, and subsequentlyv positively opening 'the released side door, and means for locking the said determinativel means position. l

4. In a dump-car or analogous receptacle in their determined having a discharge opening, two opposite pivoted vside doors adapted to open and close the said opening, a balanced door adapted to 4hold the side doors closed, means for positively closing either of the-side doors and subsequently positively closing the balanced door'. CHARLES F. FREDE.

` ANDREW J DINKEL.

Witnesses:

C. T. WEs'rLAKn, HAL C. BmviLLE. 

